Label: Editions EG
Released: 1982
The near cacaphony of Killing Joke’s music that seems to often be on the verge of being out of control would lead one to believe that they’d be a great live act to see, but a difficult live act to record. Never having seen them myself, Ha does nothing to diminish my belief in the former, but completely dispels my belief in the latter.
Recorded over two shows at Larry’s Hideaway in Toronto in 1982, the set kicks off with “Psyche,” a dark song that may be the band’s strongest song after “The Wait.” I say this without ever hearing a studio version if that’s any indication of the quality of this recording. To the already dark atmosphere, they add the tribal rhythms of “Sun Goes Down” and on top of that they add a layer of dissonance in “The Pandys are Coming,” almost as if the first side of the EP is a single piece seperated only by a bit of crowd noise.
The second side steps back a bit with the sparse (and otherwise unreleased) “Take Take Take.” But that’s just a set-up for the simultaneous throb and drone of the vaguely Joy Division-esque “Unspeakbale.” They come full-circle as they finish up with the more straightforward yet still unsettling “Wardance.”
This album escapes the trap that many live recordings fall into as they try to navigate between the Scilla and Charybdis of too live and not live enough. Ha completely captures the energy of an intense live performance without losing the clarity of the songs. It’s such a good live recording, you can even listen in the car (but be careful you don’t get too wrapped up in it and run off the road).
Note: The original 10″ EP is long out of print, but it was included on a CD issue of Killing Joke’s Fire Dances album. It appears that that may also be out of print, but I’m not sure. Either way, it’d probably be easier to find that than the 10″.
Rating: 9/10
Having been there I can assure you the building was still standing (not for a whole lot longer though it burned down in early 86). the show was absolutely amazing, i was near deaf when i left (like almost every KJ show I’ve seen)
they’ve actually gotten more insane and better over the years live, you should catch this years tour if you can. I’ll be seeing it in London then shooting it for a review in Toronto. this time though i will likely wear earplugs, the ringing in my ears is bad enough after 37 years of going to gigs. I have the EP as well as the cd but wouldn’t part with either